February 1, 2012
Today, because of the efforts of a coalition led by the California Medical Association, a final ruling was issued by Judge Christina Snyder of the California Central Federal District Court, which blocks a 10 percent Medi-Cal reimbursement rate reduction. Her decision is a huge win for physicians in California and for the patients they treat.
California faces a budget deficit every year, and to close that widening gap, programs are cut and services are slashed. Medi-Cal is a program that is constantly targeted, and proposals always seem to include reducing reimbursement rates for physicians as a short-term solution. CMA has repeatedly informed the state, the federal government and the courts about the unacceptable impact of those cuts.
Year after year, we’re obliged to tell the same story: if Medi-Cal rates are cut, physicians will be forced to stop accepting the patients that need care the most. Thanks to the hard work of CMA’s legal and legislative staff, our voices have been heard, yet again. As we argued, Judge Snyder’s ruling stated that “fiscal crisis does not outweigh the serious irreparable injury plaintiffs would suffer absent the issuance of an injunction."
It is more important than ever that we fight these fights and that we set a precedent for other states to follow. As the nation faces a changing health care landscape over the coming years, it is also critical that we physicians stand together. We thank our members for helping us accomplish this important outcome, preventing deterioration of access to care. My hope is that this achievement will serve as a reminder to those who are not yet members, and encourage them to join CMA today. To have continued success winning these battles for all California physicians and patients, it is crucial that we gain the support of those that benefit most.
To read the full statement issued by the coalition of plaintiffs in CMA et al. v. Douglas, please visit CMA’s website here.
James T. Hay, M.D.
President, CMA